“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:20-21
How many times have your heard a young teenager say, “I’ve never felt like this about anyone before”? For them, love is a feeling. However, to love someone like a spouse or friend is a choice to be made. The same is true in our relationships with other believers. Jesus gave us the commandment to love one another while He was on earth (John 13:34). That being true, the construction of the phrase ‘should love his brother’ in the Greek language implies a possible action. Meaning that we must choose to love our brothers and sisters in Christ. Though that choice is difficult, we must remember that is Christ in us who loves others through us.
Can you identify in your own heart what hinders you from loving others in Christ? Confess that to the Lord.
